45 Colt or 44 Magnum for my next?

These heavy loads are not safe or feasible for use in most double action revolvers on the market, the Ruger Redhawk being an exception.

Click to expand...

Also include the Dan Wesson and the Anaconda.

http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=1

This is an article worth reading.

The Colt is easier to shoot

Not much that a 250 grain bullet at 850 fps can't take care of. The .44 gives you more energy, but for what? Excessive blast and recoil. Not all of us are into getting smacked around.

If you go with Smith & Wesson I would buy the 45 colt, have it cut for moons and shoot 45 acp, 45 S&W along with the 45 colt.

I'D go with the 1917 S&W in.45acp.

I own several .45's and currently one .44 mag. With all due respect to the others, take the .45 and run. It easily does anything the .44 does and since you said you load your own it's the ne plus ultra.
Alot of writers out there still claim that .45 brass is weaker than .44, it's simply not true. Get a case from the same manufacturer for each caliber, and carefully cut them in half lengthwise. They will be the same thickness, and depending on which manufacturer the colt might even be thicker. 45 brass hasn't been weak in decades, not since the old balloonhead cases, and I doubt very few have ever seen one of those. All the comments about pressures are correct and when it comes down to it a bigger bullet [dia.] kills more effectively when all else is relatively equal.
Most everyone knows who John Linebaugh is, check out his web and read his writings on the .45 Colt. It's a real eye opener from someone with more experience than most of us can ever hope to achieve. I certainly don't claim to have his knowledge, but I've done a fair amount of experimenting, loading and chronographing with these calibers and my experience mirrors his.
Most people know you can load the .45 to 32,000 c.u.p. in strong guns like the Blackhawk, Redhawk, Colt Anaconda and DanWesson. I'd hazard a guess they don't know why. Again read his sight, loads of valuable info tohelp you decide. I like 'em both so I have both, but the .45 is definitely my favorite.

I own several .45's and currently one .44 mag. With all due respect to the others, take the .45 and run. It easily does anything the .44 does and since you said you load your own it's the ne plus ultra.
Alot of writers out there still claim that .45 brass is weaker than .44, it's simply not true. Get a case from the same manufacturer for each caliber, and carefully cut them in half lengthwise. They will be the same thickness, and depending on which manufacturer the colt might even be thicker. 45 brass hasn't been weak in decades, not since the old balloonhead cases, and I doubt very few have ever seen one of those. All the comments about pressures are correct and when it comes down to it a bigger bullet [dia.] kills more effectively when all else is relatively equal.
Most everyone knows who John Linebaugh is, check out his web and read his writings on the .45 Colt. It's a real eye opener from someone with more experience than most of us can ever hope to achieve. I certainly don't claim to have his knowledge, but I've done a fair amount of experimenting, loading and chronographing with these calibers and my experience mirrors his.
Most people know you can load the .45 to 32,000 c.u.p. in strong guns like the Blackhawk, Redhawk, Colt Anaconda and DanWesson. I'd hazard a guess they don't know why. Again read his sight, loads of valuable info tohelp you decide. I like 'em both so I have both, but the .45 is definitely my favorite.

I own several .45's and currently one .44 mag. With all due respect to the others, take the .45 and run. It easily does anything the .44 does and since you said you load your own it's the ne plus ultra.
Alot of writers out there still claim that .45 brass is weaker than .44, it's simply not true. Get a case from the same manufacturer for each caliber, and carefully cut them in half lengthwise. They will be the same thickness, and depending on which manufacturer the colt might even be thicker. 45 brass hasn't been weak in decades, not since the old balloonhead cases, and I doubt very few have ever seen one of those. All the comments about pressures are correct and when it comes down to it a bigger bullet [dia.] kills more effectively when all else is relatively equal.
Most everyone knows who John Linebaugh is, check out his web and read his writings on the .45 Colt. It's a real eye opener from someone with more eperience than most of us can ever hope to achieve. I certainly don't claim to have his knowledge, but I've done a fair amount of experimenting, loading and chronographing with these calibers and my experience mirrors his.
Most people know you can load the .45 to 32,000 c.u.p. in strong guns like the Blackhawk, Redhawk, Colt Anaconda and DanWesson. I'd hazard a guess they don't know why. Again read his sight, loads of valuable info tohelp you decide. I like 'em both so I have both, but the .45 is definitely my favorite.

OK, OK- We heard you!

It just occurred to me that the difference in caliber between the .44 and the .45 is as big as between the .41 and the .44, and that the difference in surface area is even bigger.

Reloader, go with the .45.

Non-reloader, .44 mag.

Now-a-days. Even the non reloader can find an assortment of .45 Colt ammo. The .45 Colt is a very nice big bore cartridge, which is very flexible.

Since you said you reload I would go with the 45 Colt which is one of my favorite pistol calibers.

How can ya go wrong with a cartridge that's been around since 1873?